U.S. patent number 11,384,001 [Application Number 16/344,637] was granted by the patent office on 2022-07-12 for cold-form glass lamination to a display.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Corning Incorporated. The grantee listed for this patent is CORNING INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Michael Timothy Brennan, Atul Kumar, Michael James McFarland, Yawei Sun.
United States Patent |
11,384,001 |
Brennan , et al. |
July 12, 2022 |
Cold-form glass lamination to a display
Abstract
In some embodiments, a process comprises fixing a first portion
of a flexible glass substrate into a first fixed shape with a first
rigid support structure and attaching a first display to the first
portion of the flexible glass substrate or to the first rigid
support structure. After fixing the first portion and attaching the
first display, and while maintaining the first fixed shape of the
first portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached
first display, cold-forming a second portion of the flexible glass
substrate to a second fixed shape and fixing the second portion of
the flexible glass substrate into the second fixed shape with a
second rigid support structure.
Inventors: |
Brennan; Michael Timothy
(Painted Post, NY), Kumar; Atul (Horseheads, NY),
McFarland; Michael James (Corning, NY), Sun; Yawei
(Elmira, NY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CORNING INCORPORATED |
Corning |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Corning Incorporated (Corning,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006427771 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/344,637 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2017 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 24, 2017 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US2017/058010 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 24, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/081068 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 03, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200062632 A1 |
Feb 27, 2020 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
62412542 |
Oct 25, 2016 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B
17/10045 (20130101); C03C 27/06 (20130101); C03B
23/0307 (20130101); C03B 23/0235 (20130101); B32B
17/10091 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C03B
23/023 (20060101); B32B 17/10 (20060101); C03B
23/03 (20060101); C03C 27/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1587132 |
|
Mar 2005 |
|
CN |
|
1860081 |
|
Nov 2006 |
|
CN |
|
101600846 |
|
Dec 2009 |
|
CN |
|
101684032 |
|
Mar 2010 |
|
CN |
|
201989544 |
|
Sep 2011 |
|
CN |
|
102341356 |
|
Feb 2012 |
|
CN |
|
102464456 |
|
May 2012 |
|
CN |
|
103136490 |
|
Jun 2013 |
|
CN |
|
103587161 |
|
Feb 2014 |
|
CN |
|
203825589 |
|
Sep 2014 |
|
CN |
|
204111583 |
|
Jan 2015 |
|
CN |
|
102566841 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
CN |
|
104656999 |
|
May 2015 |
|
CN |
|
104679341 |
|
Jun 2015 |
|
CN |
|
204463066 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
CN |
|
104843976 |
|
Aug 2015 |
|
CN |
|
105118391 |
|
Dec 2015 |
|
CN |
|
105511127 |
|
Apr 2016 |
|
CN |
|
205239166 |
|
May 2016 |
|
CN |
|
105705330 |
|
Jun 2016 |
|
CN |
|
106256794 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
CN |
|
205905907 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
CN |
|
106458683 |
|
Feb 2017 |
|
CN |
|
206114596 |
|
Apr 2017 |
|
CN |
|
206114956 |
|
Apr 2017 |
|
CN |
|
107613809 |
|
Jan 2018 |
|
CN |
|
107757516 |
|
Mar 2018 |
|
CN |
|
108519831 |
|
Sep 2018 |
|
CN |
|
108550587 |
|
Sep 2018 |
|
CN |
|
108725350 |
|
Nov 2018 |
|
CN |
|
109135605 |
|
Jan 2019 |
|
CN |
|
109690662 |
|
Apr 2019 |
|
CN |
|
109743421 |
|
May 2019 |
|
CN |
|
4415787 |
|
Nov 1995 |
|
DE |
|
4415878 |
|
Nov 1995 |
|
DE |
|
69703490 |
|
May 2001 |
|
DE |
|
192004022008 |
|
Dec 2004 |
|
DE |
|
102004002208 |
|
Aug 2005 |
|
DE |
|
102009021938 |
|
Nov 2010 |
|
DE |
|
102010007204 |
|
Aug 2011 |
|
DE |
|
102013214108 |
|
Feb 2015 |
|
DE |
|
102014116798 |
|
May 2016 |
|
DE |
|
0076924 |
|
Apr 1983 |
|
EP |
|
0316224 |
|
May 1989 |
|
EP |
|
0347049 |
|
Dec 1989 |
|
EP |
|
0418700 |
|
Mar 1991 |
|
EP |
|
0423698 |
|
Apr 1991 |
|
EP |
|
0525970 |
|
Feb 1993 |
|
EP |
|
0664210 |
|
Jul 1995 |
|
EP |
|
1013622 |
|
Jun 2000 |
|
EP |
|
1031409 |
|
Aug 2000 |
|
EP |
|
1046493 |
|
Oct 2000 |
|
EP |
|
0910721 |
|
Nov 2000 |
|
EP |
|
1647663 |
|
Apr 2006 |
|
EP |
|
2236281 |
|
Oct 2010 |
|
EP |
|
2385630 |
|
Nov 2011 |
|
EP |
|
2521118 |
|
Nov 2012 |
|
EP |
|
2852502 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
EP |
|
2933718 |
|
Oct 2015 |
|
EP |
|
3093181 |
|
Nov 2016 |
|
EP |
|
3100854 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
EP |
|
3118174 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
EP |
|
3118175 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
EP |
|
3144141 |
|
Mar 2017 |
|
EP |
|
3156286 |
|
Apr 2017 |
|
EP |
|
3189965 |
|
Jul 2017 |
|
EP |
|
3288791 |
|
Mar 2018 |
|
EP |
|
3426614 |
|
Jan 2019 |
|
EP |
|
3532442 |
|
Sep 2019 |
|
EP |
|
2750075 |
|
Dec 1997 |
|
FR |
|
2918411 |
|
Oct 2013 |
|
FR |
|
3012073 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
FR |
|
0805770 |
|
Dec 1958 |
|
GB |
|
0991867 |
|
May 1965 |
|
GB |
|
1319846 |
|
Jun 1973 |
|
GB |
|
2011316 |
|
Jul 1979 |
|
GB |
|
2281542 |
|
Mar 1995 |
|
GB |
|
55-154329 |
|
Dec 1980 |
|
JP |
|
57-048082 |
|
Mar 1982 |
|
JP |
|
58-073681 |
|
May 1983 |
|
JP |
|
58-194751 |
|
Nov 1983 |
|
JP |
|
59-076561 |
|
May 1984 |
|
JP |
|
63-089317 |
|
Apr 1988 |
|
JP |
|
63-190730 |
|
Aug 1988 |
|
JP |
|
3059337 |
|
Jun 1991 |
|
JP |
|
03-228840 |
|
Oct 1991 |
|
JP |
|
04-119931 |
|
Apr 1992 |
|
JP |
|
05-116972 |
|
May 1993 |
|
JP |
|
06-340029 |
|
Dec 1994 |
|
JP |
|
10-218630 |
|
Aug 1998 |
|
JP |
|
11-001349 |
|
Jan 1999 |
|
JP |
|
11-006029 |
|
Jan 1999 |
|
JP |
|
11-060293 |
|
Mar 1999 |
|
JP |
|
2000-260330 |
|
Sep 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2002-255574 |
|
Sep 2002 |
|
JP |
|
2003-500260 |
|
Jan 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2003-276571 |
|
Oct 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2003-321257 |
|
Nov 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2004-101712 |
|
Apr 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2004-284839 |
|
Oct 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2006-181936 |
|
Jul 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2007-188035 |
|
Jul 2007 |
|
JP |
|
2007-197288 |
|
Aug 2007 |
|
JP |
|
2010-145731 |
|
Jul 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2010145731 |
|
Jul 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2010-256769 |
|
Nov 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2012-111661 |
|
Jun 2012 |
|
JP |
|
2013-084269 |
|
May 2013 |
|
JP |
|
2014-126564 |
|
Jul 2014 |
|
JP |
|
2015-502901 |
|
Jan 2015 |
|
JP |
|
2015092422 |
|
May 2015 |
|
JP |
|
5748082 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
JP |
|
5796561 |
|
Oct 2015 |
|
JP |
|
2016-500458 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016031696 |
|
Mar 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016-517380 |
|
Jun 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016-130810 |
|
Jul 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016-144008 |
|
Aug 2016 |
|
JP |
|
5976561 |
|
Aug 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016-530204 |
|
Sep 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016173794 |
|
Sep 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016-207200 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
JP |
|
2016203609 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
JP |
|
6281825 |
|
Feb 2018 |
|
JP |
|
6340029 |
|
Jun 2018 |
|
JP |
|
2002-0019045 |
|
Mar 2002 |
|
KR |
|
10-0479282 |
|
Aug 2005 |
|
KR |
|
10-2008-0023888 |
|
Mar 2008 |
|
KR |
|
10-2013-0005776 |
|
Jan 2013 |
|
KR |
|
10-2014-0111403 |
|
Sep 2014 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0026911 |
|
Mar 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0033969 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0051458 |
|
May 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-1550833 |
|
Sep 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0121101 |
|
Oct 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0125971 |
|
Nov 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2016-0118746 |
|
Oct 2016 |
|
KR |
|
10-1674060 |
|
Nov 2016 |
|
KR |
|
10-2016-0144008 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
KR |
|
10-2017-0000208 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
KR |
|
10-2017-0106263 |
|
Sep 2017 |
|
KR |
|
10-2017-0107124 |
|
Sep 2017 |
|
KR |
|
10-2017-0113822 |
|
Oct 2017 |
|
KR |
|
10-2017-0121674 |
|
Nov 2017 |
|
KR |
|
10-2018-0028597 |
|
Mar 2018 |
|
KR |
|
10-2018-0049484 |
|
May 2018 |
|
KR |
|
10-2018-0049780 |
|
May 2018 |
|
KR |
|
10-2019-0001864 |
|
Jan 2019 |
|
KR |
|
10-2019-0081264 |
|
Jul 2019 |
|
KR |
|
200704268 |
|
Jan 2007 |
|
TW |
|
201438895 |
|
Oct 2014 |
|
TW |
|
201546006 |
|
Dec 2015 |
|
TW |
|
201636309 |
|
Oct 2016 |
|
TW |
|
201637857 |
|
Nov 2016 |
|
TW |
|
58334 |
|
Jul 2018 |
|
VN |
|
94/25272 |
|
Nov 1994 |
|
WO |
|
97/39074 |
|
Oct 1997 |
|
WO |
|
9801649 |
|
Jan 1998 |
|
WO |
|
00/73062 |
|
Dec 2000 |
|
WO |
|
2006/095005 |
|
Sep 2006 |
|
WO |
|
2007108861 |
|
Sep 2007 |
|
WO |
|
2008/042731 |
|
Apr 2008 |
|
WO |
|
2008/153484 |
|
Dec 2008 |
|
WO |
|
2009/072530 |
|
Jun 2009 |
|
WO |
|
2011/029852 |
|
Mar 2011 |
|
WO |
|
2011/144359 |
|
Nov 2011 |
|
WO |
|
2011/155403 |
|
Dec 2011 |
|
WO |
|
2012/005307 |
|
Jan 2012 |
|
WO |
|
2012058084 |
|
May 2012 |
|
WO |
|
2012/166343 |
|
Dec 2012 |
|
WO |
|
2013/072611 |
|
May 2013 |
|
WO |
|
2013/072612 |
|
May 2013 |
|
WO |
|
2013/174715 |
|
Nov 2013 |
|
WO |
|
2013/175106 |
|
Nov 2013 |
|
WO |
|
2014/085663 |
|
Jun 2014 |
|
WO |
|
2014/107640 |
|
Jul 2014 |
|
WO |
|
2014/172237 |
|
Oct 2014 |
|
WO |
|
2014/175371 |
|
Oct 2014 |
|
WO |
|
2015031594 |
|
Mar 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2015/055583 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2015/057552 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2015/084902 |
|
Jun 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2015/085283 |
|
Jun 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2015/141966 |
|
Sep 2015 |
|
WO |
|
2016/007843 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/010947 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/010949 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016007815 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016044360 |
|
Mar 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/069113 |
|
May 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/070974 |
|
May 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/115311 |
|
Jul 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/125713 |
|
Aug 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/136758 |
|
Sep 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/173699 |
|
Nov 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/183059 |
|
Nov 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/195301 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016/202605 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016196531 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2016196546 |
|
Dec 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2017/015392 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017/019851 |
|
Feb 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017/023673 |
|
Feb 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017/106081 |
|
Jun 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017/146866 |
|
Aug 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017/158031 |
|
Sep 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2017155932 |
|
Sep 2017 |
|
WO |
|
2018/015392 |
|
Jan 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018005646 |
|
Jan 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018009504 |
|
Jan 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018075853 |
|
Apr 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018081068 |
|
May 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018/102332 |
|
Jun 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018125683 |
|
Jul 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018/160812 |
|
Sep 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018/200454 |
|
Nov 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018/200807 |
|
Nov 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2018/213267 |
|
Nov 2018 |
|
WO |
|
2019/055469 |
|
Mar 2019 |
|
WO |
|
2019/055652 |
|
Mar 2019 |
|
WO |
|
2019/074800 |
|
Apr 2019 |
|
WO |
|
2019/075065 |
|
Apr 2019 |
|
WO |
|
2019/151618 |
|
Aug 2019 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
"Corning.RTM. Gorilla.RTM. Glass for Automotive Featured in Curved
Cover Lens Applications at the Paris Motor Show"; Corning
Incorporated; Sep. 30, 2016; 3 Pages. cited by applicant .
International Search Report and Written Opinion of the
International Searching Authority; PCT/US2017/058010; dated Dec.
20, 2017; 12 Pages; European Patent Office. cited by applicant
.
Taiwanese Patent Application No. 106136742, Office Action dated
Feb. 20, 2021, 2 pages (English Translation Only); Taiwanese Patent
Office. cited by applicant .
Author Unknown; "Stress Optics Laboratory Practice Guide" 2012; 11
Pages. cited by applicant .
Belis et al; "Cold Bending of Laminated Glass Panels"; Heron vol.
52 (2007) No. 1/2; 24 Pages. cited by applicant .
Doyle et al; "Manual on Experimental Stress Analysis"; Fifth
Edition, Society for Experimental Mechanics; Unknown Year; 31
Pages. cited by applicant .
Elziere; "Laminated Glass: Dynamic Rupture of Adhesion"; Polymers;
Universite Pierre Et Marie Curie--Paris VI, 2016. English; 181
Pages. cited by applicant .
Fildhuth et al; "Considerations Using Curved, Heat or Cold Bent
Glass for Assembling Full Glass Shells", Engineered Transparency,
International Conference at Glasstec, Dusseldorf, Germany, Oct. 25
and 26, 2012; 11 Pages. cited by applicant .
Fildhuth et al; "Interior Stress Monitoring of Laminated Cold Bent
Glass With Fibre Bragg Sensors", Challenging Glass 4 & Cost
Action TU0905 Final Conference Louter, Bos & Belis (Eds), 2014;
8 Pages. cited by applicant .
Fildhuth et al; "Layout Strategies and Optimisation of Joint
Patterns in Full Glass Shells", Challenging Glass 3--Conference on
Architectural and Structural Applications of Glass, Bos, Louter,
Nijsse, Veer (Eds.), Tu Delft, Jun. 2012; 13 Pages. cited by
applicant .
Fildhuth et al; "Recovery Behaviour of Laminated Cold Bent
Glass--Numerical Analysis and Testing"; Challenging Glass 4 &
Cost Action TU0905 Final Conference--Louter, Bos & Beus (Eds)
(2014); 9 Pages. cited by applicant .
Fildhuth; "Design and Monitoring of Cold Bent
Lamination--Stabilised Glass"; ITKE 39 (2015) 270 Pages. cited by
applicant .
Galuppi et al; "Cold-Lamination-Bending of Glass: Sinusoidal is
Better Than Circular", Composites Part B 79 (2015) 285-300. cited
by applicant .
Galuppi et al; "Optical Cold Bending of Laminated Glass";
Internaitonal Journal of Solids and Structures, 67-68 (2015) pp.
231-243. cited by applicant .
Millard; "Bending Glass in the Parametric Age"; Enclos; (2015); pp.
1-6;
http://www.enclos.com/site-info/news/bending-glass-in-the-parametric-age.
cited by applicant .
Neugebauer et al; "Let Thin Glass in the Faade Move Thin Glass--New
Possibilities for Glass in the Faade", Conference Paper Jun. 2018;
12 Pages. cited by applicant .
Vakar et al; "Cold Bendable, Laminated Glass--New Possibilities in
Design"; Structural Engineering International, Feb. 2004 pp. 95-97.
cited by applicant .
Weijde; "Graduation Plan"; Jan. 2017; 30 Pages. cited by applicant
.
Werner; "Display Materials and Processes," Information Display; May
2015; 8 Pages. cited by applicant .
"Stainless Steel--Grade 410 (UNS S41000)", available online at
<https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=970>, Oct. 23,
2001, 5 pages. cited by applicant .
"Standard Test Method for Measurement of Glass Stress--Optical
Coefficient", ASTM International, Designation: C770-16, 2016. cited
by applicant .
Ashley Klamer, "Dead front overlays", Marking Systems, Inc., Jul.
8, 2013, 2 pages. cited by applicant .
ASTM C1279-13 "Standard Test Method for Non-Destructive
Photoelastic Measurement of Edge and Surface Stresses in Annealed,
Heat-Strengthened, and Fully Tempered Flat Glass"; Downloaded Jan.
24, 2018; 11 Pages. cited by applicant .
ASTM C1422/C1422M-10 "Standard Specification for Chemically
Strengthened Flat Glass"; Downloaded Jan. 24, 2018; 5 pages. cited
by applicant .
ASTM Standard C770-98 (2013), "Standard Test Method for Measurement
of Glass Stress-Optical Coefficient". cited by applicant .
Burchardt et al., (Editorial Team), Elastic Bonding: The basic
principles of adhesive technology and a guide to its cost-effective
use in industry, 2006, 71 pages. cited by applicant .
Byun et al; "A Novel Route for Thinning of LCD Glass Substrates";
SID 06 Digest; pp. 1786-1788, v37, 2006. cited by applicant .
Datsiou et al., "Behaviour of cold bent glass plates during the
shaping process", Engineered Transparency. International Conference
atglasstec, Dusseldorf, Germany, Oct. 21 and 22, 2014, 9 pages.
cited by applicant .
Engineering ToolBox, "Coefficients of Linear Thermal Expansion",
available online at
<https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coeffic-
ients-d_95.html>, 2003, 9 pages. cited by applicant .
Fauercia "Intuitive HMI for a Smart Life on Board" (2018); 8 Pages
http://www.faurecia.com/en/innovation/smart-life-board/intuitive-HMI.
cited by applicant .
Faurecia: Smart Pebbles, Nov. 10, 2016 (Nov. 10, 2016),
XP055422209, Retrieved from the Internet:
URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20171123002248/http://www.faurecia.com/en-
/innovation/discover-our-innovations/smart-pebbles [retrieved on
Nov. 23, 2017]. cited by applicant .
Ferwerda et al., "Perception of sparkle in anti-glare display
screens", Journal of the SID, vol. 22, Issue 2, 2014, pp. 129-136.
cited by applicant .
Galuppi et al; "Buckling Phenomena in Double Curved Cold-Bent
Glass;" Intl. J. Non-Linear Mechanics 64 (2014) pp. 70-84. cited by
applicant .
Galuppi et al; "Large Deformations and Snap-Through Instability of
Cold-Bent Glass"; Challenging Glass 4 & Cost Action TU0905
Final Conference; (2014) pp. 681-689. cited by applicant .
Galuppi L et al: "Optimal cold bending of laminated glass", Jan. 1,
2007 vol. 52, No. 1/2 Jan. 1, 2007 (Jan. 1, 2007), pp. 123-146.
cited by applicant .
Gollier et al., "Display Sparkle Measurement and Human Response",
SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, vol. 44, Issue 1, 2013,
pp. 295-297. cited by applicant .
Indian Patent Application No. 201917031293 Office Action dated May
24, 2021; 6 pages; Indian Patent Office. cited by applicant .
Jalopnik, "This Touch Screen Car Interior is a Realistic Vision of
the Near Future", jalopnik.com, Nov. 19, 2014,
https://jalopnik.com/this-touch-screen-car-interior-is-a-realistic-vision-
-of-1660846024 (Year: 2014). cited by applicant .
Li et al., "Effective Surface Treatment on the Cover Glass for
Autointerior Applications", SID Symposium Digest of Technical
Papers, vol. 47, 2016, pp. 467-469. cited by applicant .
Pambianchi et al; "Corning Incorporated: Designing a New Future
With Glass and Optics"; Chapter 1 in "Materials Research for
Manufacturing: An Industrial Perspective of Turning Materials Into
New Products"; Springer Series Material Science 224, p. 12 (2016).
cited by applicant .
Pegatron Corp. "Pegaton Navigate the Future"; Ecockpit/Center
Cnsole Work Premiere; Automotive World; Downloaded Jul. 12, 2017; 2
Pages. cited by applicant .
Photodon, "Screen Protectors for Your Car's Navi System That You're
Gonna Love", photodon.com, Nov. 6, 2015,
https://www.photodon.com/blog/archives/screen-protectors-for-your-cars-na-
vi-system-that-youre-gonna-love) (Year: 2015). cited by applicant
.
Product Information Sheet: Corning.RTM. Gorilla.RTM. Glass 3 with
Native Damage Resistance.TM., Coming Incorporated, 2015, Rev:
F_090315, 2 pages. cited by applicant .
Scholze, H., "Glass-Water Interactions", Journal of Non-Crystalline
Solids vol. 102, Issues 1-3, Jun. 1, 1988, pp. 1-10. cited by
applicant .
Stattler; "New Wave-Curved Glass Shapes Design"; Glass Magazine;
(2013); 2 Pages. cited by applicant .
Stiles Custom Metal, Inc., Installation Recommendations, 2010
https://stilesdoors.com/techdata/pdf/Installation%20Recommendations%20HM%-
20Windows,%20Transoms%20&%>OSidelites%200710.pdf) (Year:
2010). cited by applicant .
Tomozawa et al., "Hydrogen-to-Alkali Ratio in Hydrated Alkali
Aluminosilicate Glass Surfaces", Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids,
vol. 358, Issue 24, Dec. 15, 2012, pp. 3546-3550. cited by
applicant .
Zhixin Wang, Polydimethylsiloxane mechanical properties measured by
macroscopic compression and nanoindentation techniques, Graduate
Theses and Dissertations, University of South Florida, 2011, 79
pages. cited by applicant .
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-7014915, Notice of Allowance,
dated Jan. 24, 2022, 7 pages (4 pages of English Translation and 3
pages of Original Document), Korean Patent Office. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Goff, II; John L
Assistant Examiner: Raimund; Christopher W
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Johnson; William M.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 371 of International Patent Application Serial No.
PCT/US2017/58010, filed on Oct. 24, 2017, which claims the benefit
of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/412,542, filed on Oct. 25, 2016, the
contents of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A process, comprising: attaching a first display to a first
portion of a flexible glass substrate; after attaching the first
display to the first portion of the flexible glass substrate,
fixing the first portion of the flexible glass substrate into a
first fixed shape with a first rigid support structure, wherein the
first fixed shape-comprises a non-planar shape; after attaching the
first display and fixing the first portion, and while maintaining
the first fixed shape of the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate and the attached first display: cold-forming a second
portion of the flexible glass substrate to a second fixed shape;
and fixing the second portion of the flexible glass substrate into
the second fixed shape with a second rigid support structure,
wherein the second rigid support structure surrounds the first
rigid support structure.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein the first display comprises a
non-planar shape.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the first fixed shape is formed
by cold-forming the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the shape of the first display
is the same as the first fixed shape.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the first rigid support
structure is attached to the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the second fixed shape comprises
a non-planar shape.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the second rigid support
structure is attached to the second portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
8. The process of claim 1, further comprising: fixing a third
portion of the flexible glass substrate into a third fixed shape
with a third rigid support structure; and attaching a second
display to the third portion of the flexible glass substrate or to
the third rigid support structure; wherein: cold-forming the second
portion of the flexible glass substrate to the second fixed shape;
and fixing the second portion of the flexible glass substrate into
the second fixed shape with the second rigid support structure is
performed after fixing the third portion and attaching the second
display, and while maintaining the third fixed shape of the third
portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached second
display, and wherein the second rigid support structure surrounds
the third rigid support structure.
9. The process of claim 1, further comprising applying at least one
coating to the flexible glass substrate before fixing the first
portion and attaching the first display, and while the flexible
glass substrate is planar.
10. The process of claim 9, wherein one of the at least one
coatings is a decorative ink coating or an antireflective
coating.
11. The process of claim 1, wherein the flexible glass substrate is
directly bonded to the first rigid support structure.
12. The process of claim 11, further comprising applying an
adhesive to at least one of the first rigid support structure and
the flexible glass substrate prior to bonding.
13. The process of claim 11, wherein the flexible glass substrate
is bonded to the first rigid support structure using a method
selected from roller tapes, mechanical retainers, press molding, or
die molding.
14. The process of claim 1, wherein the first display is directly
attached to the first portion of the flexible glass substrate.
15. The process of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the
flexible glass substrate comprises a boundary that coincides with
an outer boundary of the rigid support structure, and wherein the
display is directly attached to the portion of the flexible glass
substrate within an opening surrounded by an interior perimeter
edge of the rigid support structure.
16. An article, formed by a process comprising: attaching a first
display to a first portion of a flexible glass substrate; after
attaching the first display to the first portion of the flexible
glass substrate, fixing the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate into a first fixed shape with a first rigid support
structure, wherein the first fixed shape comprises a non-planar
shape; after attaching the first display and fixing the first
portion, and while maintaining the first fixed shape of the first
portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached first
display: cold-forming a second portion of the flexible glass
substrate to a second fixed shape; and fixing the second portion of
the flexible glass substrate into the second fixed shape with a
second rigid support structure, wherein the second rigid support
structure surrounds the first rigid support structure.
17. An article, comprising: a first rigid support structure; a
second rigid support structure; a third rigid support structure; a
cold-formed flexible glass substrate fixed into a non-planar fixed
shape, the cold-formed flexible glass substrate comprising: a first
portion with a first fixed shape, wherein the first rigid support
structure is fixed at the first portion, and wherein a boundary of
the first portion coincides with an outer boundary of the first
rigid support structure, a second portion with a second fixed
shape, wherein the second rigid support structure is fixed at the
second portion, and wherein a boundary of the second portion
coincides with an outer boundary of the second rigid support
structure, and a third portion with a third fixed shape, wherein
the third rigid support structure is fixed at the third portion,
and wherein the third rigid support structure surrounds the first
portion and the second portion; a first display attached to the
first portion of the flexible glass substrate within a first
opening surrounded by an interior perimeter edge of the first rigid
support structure; and a second display attached to the second
portion of the flexible glass substrate within a second opening
surrounded by an interior perimeter edge of the second rigid
support structure.
18. The article of claim 17, wherein: the first fixed shape
comprises a planar shape, the second fixed shape comprises a planar
shape, and the third fixed shape comprises a non-planar shape.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to curved cold-formed glass
substrates, articles including such glass substrates, and related
processes.
Curved glass substrates are desirable in many contexts. One such
context is for use as a cover glass for a curved display, which may
be incorporated into an appliance, an architectural element (e.g.,
wall, window, modular furniture, shower door, mirrors etc.), a
vehicle (e.g., automobiles, aircraft, sea craft and the like).
Existing methods of forming such curved glass substrates, such as
thermal forming, have drawbacks including optical distortion and
surface marking.
BRIEF SUMMARY
In some embodiments, articles comprising a display attached to
cold-formed glass substrate are described, and methods of making
such articles.
In some embodiments, a process comprises fixing a first portion of
a flexible glass substrate into a first fixed shape with a first
rigid support structure and attaching a first display to the first
portion of the flexible glass substrate or to the first rigid
support structure. After fixing the first portion and attaching the
first display, and while maintaining the first fixed shape of the
first portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached
first display, cold-forming a second portion of the flexible glass
substrate to a second fixed shape and fixing the second portion of
the flexible glass substrate into the second fixed shape with a
second rigid support structure.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include a planar first display, a planar
first fixed shape, and the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate fixed into the first fixed shape with the first rigid
support structure after attaching the first display to the first
portion of the flexible glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include first portion of the flexible glass
substrate fixed into the first fixed shape with the first rigid
support structure before attaching the first display to the first
portion of the flexible glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the first fixed shape being planar
or non-planar.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the first display having a planar or
a non-planar shape.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the first fixed shape being formed
by cold-forming the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include a first display having a shape same
as the first fixed shape.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the first rigid support structure
permanently attached to the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the second fixed shape being
non-planar.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the second rigid support structure
permanently attached to the second portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the first display attached to the
flexible glass substrate or to the first rigid support structure
using a method selected from optical bonding or air gap
bonding.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include a process comprising fixing a third
portion of the flexible glass substrate into a third fixed shape
with a third rigid support structure and attaching a second display
to the third portion of the flexible glass substrate or to the
third rigid support structure. The process further comprising
cold-forming the second portion of the flexible glass substrate to
the second fixed shape and fixing the second portion of the
flexible glass substrate into the second fixed shape with the
second rigid support structure, which is performed after fixing the
third portion and attaching the second display, and while
maintaining the third fixed shape of the third portion of the
flexible glass substrate and the attached second display.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the flexible glass substrate
comprising a chemically strengthened glass.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the process further comprising
applying a coating to the flexible glass substrate before fixing
the first portion and attaching the first display, and while the
flexible glass substrate is planar.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include one of the at least one coatings is
a decorative ink coating.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include one of the at least one coatings is
an antireflective coating.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the flexible glass substrate
directly bonded to the first rigid support structure.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the process further comprising
applying an adhesive to at least one of the first rigid support
structure and the flexible glass substrate prior to bonding.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include the flexible glass substrate bonded
to the first rigid support structure using a method selected from
roller tapes, mechanical retainers, press molding, or die
molding.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include an article formed by the process
comprising fixing a first portion of a flexible glass substrate
into a first fixed shape with a first rigid support structure and
attaching a first display to the first portion of the flexible
glass substrate or to the first rigid support structure. After
fixing the first portion and attaching the first display, and while
maintaining the first fixed shape of the first portion of the
flexible glass substrate and the attached first display,
cold-forming a second portion of the flexible glass substrate to a
second fixed shape and fixing the second portion of the flexible
glass substrate into the second fixed shape with a second rigid
support structure.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include an article comprising a cold-formed
flexible glass substrate fixed into a non-planar fixed shape with a
rigid support structure, and a display attached to the cold-formed
flexible glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include an article where there is no
residual stress between the display and the cold-formed flexible
glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the embodiments of any of the preceding
paragraphs may further include a process comprising cold-forming a
flexible glass substrate into a non-planar fixed shape, attaching
the flexible glass substrate to a rigid support structure, and
after cold forming and attaching the flexible glass substrate to a
rigid support structure, attaching a display to the flexible glass
substrate or to the rigid support structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part
of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present
disclosure. Together with the description, the figures further
serve to explain the principles of and to enable a person skilled
in the relevant art(s) to make and use the disclosed embodiments.
These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting.
Although the disclosure is generally described in the context of
these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended
to limit the scope of the disclosure to these particular
embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate
identical or functionally similar elements.
FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of a glass substrate with a support
structure.
FIG. 1B illustrates a cross-section view of a glass substrate with
a support structure, along 1-1' shown in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of a display directly attached to a
glass substrate.
FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-section view of a display directly
attached to a glass substrate, along 2-2' shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of a display attached to a glass
substrate.
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section view of a display attached to a
glass substrate, along 3-3' shown in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a display attached to a support
structure.
FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-section view of a display attached to a
support structure, along 4-4' shown in FIG. 4A
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of a planar display
attached to a non-planar glass substrate.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section view of a non-planar glass
substrate covering a planar display attached to a support
structure.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view of a non-planar display
directly attached to a non-planar glass substrate.
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section view of a non-planar glass
substrate covering a non-planar display attached to a support
structure.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show process flowcharts of attaching displays to a
cold-formed glass substrate.
FIG. 10A illustrates a top view of a display directly attached to a
glass substrate and a cold-formed portion of the substrate with a
second rigid support structure.
FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-section view of a display directly
attached to a glass substrate and a cold-formed, non-planar portion
of the substrate with a second rigid support structure, along 5-5'
shown in FIG. 10A.
FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-section view of two displays directly
attached to a glass substrate.
FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-section view of two adjacent displays
directly attached to a glass substrate.
FIG. 13A illustrates a top view of two displays directly attached
to the planar first portion of the glass substrate and cold-formed,
non-planar portions of the substrate supported with a rigid support
structure.
FIG. 13B illustrates a cross-section view of two displays directly
attached to the planar first portion of the glass substrate and
cold-formed, non-planar portions of the substrate supported with a
rigid support structure, along 6-6' shown in FIG. 13A.
FIG. 14 illustrates the cold-forming process wherein the pins are
selectively activated to press the glass substrate against the
adhesive layer and support structure.
FIG. 15A illustrates an exemplary press molding process wherein a
mold presses the glass substrate against a rigid support
structure.
FIG. 15B illustrates a press-molded, cold-formed article. After
press-molding, the press-mold is withdrawn.
FIG. 16 illustrates an automotive interior display comprising a
cold-formed glass substrate bonded to a non-planar rigid support
structure.
FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a top view and a cross-section view,
respectively of a rigid support structure fixed to the glass
substrate.
FIGS. 17C and 17D illustrate a top view and a cross-section view,
respectively of displays attached to the glass substrate while the
rigid support structure is fixed.
FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of a process where the display is
attached after the fixing the rigid support structure and
cold-forming the glass substrate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Vehicle manufacturers are creating interiors that better connect,
protect and safely inform today's drivers and passengers. As the
industry moves towards autonomous driving, there is a need for
creating large format appealing displays. There is already a trend
towards larger displays including touch functionality in the new
models from several OEMs. Such trends are also emerging in
appliances, architectural elements (e.g., wall, window, modular
furniture, shower door, mirrors etc.), and other vehicles (e.g.,
aircraft, sea-craft and the like). However, most of these displays
consist of two dimensional plastic cover lenses.
Due to these emerging trends in the automotive interior industry
and related industries, there is a need to develop a low cost
technology to make three-dimensional transparent surfaces.
Strengthened glass materials, such as chemically strengthened,
thermally strengthened and/or mechanically strengthened glass
materials are particularly desirable for use as such surfaces,
particularly where the glass substrate is used as a curved cover
glass for a display.
However, many methods for forming curved glass surfaces involve
subjecting glass substrates to thermal forming processes (that
include heating a glass substrate to a temperature above the
transition temperature of the glass). Such processes can be energy
intensive due to the high temperatures involved and such processes
add significant cost to the product. Furthermore, thermal forming
processes may cause strength degradation or may damage any coatings
present on the glass substrate, such as antireflective (AR)
coatings or ink coatings. Moreover, thermal forming processes may
impart undesirable characteristics onto the glass itself, such as
distortion and marking.
A planar glass substrate may be "cold-formed" to have a curved or
three-dimensional shape. As used herein, "cold-forming" refers to
bending the glass substrate at temperatures below the glass
transition temperature of the glass. In some embodiments,
cold-forming occurs at temperatures below 80.degree. F. A
cold-formed glass substrate has opposing major surfaces and a
curved shape. The opposing major surfaces exhibit surface stresses
that differ from one another that are created during cold-forming.
The stresses include surface compressive stresses or tensile
stresses generated by the cold-forming process. These stresses are
not thermally relaxed because the glass substrate is maintained at
temperatures well below the glass transition temperature.
In some embodiments, a cold-formed glass substrate forms a
"developable" surface. A developable surface is a surface with zero
Gaussian curvature--i.e., a surface that can be flattened into a
plane without stretching or compressing within the plane of the
surface. Examples of developable surfaces include cones, cylinders,
oloids, tangent developable surfaces, and portions thereof. A
surface that projects onto a single curved line is a developable
surface. On the other hand, most smooth surfaces have a non-zero
Gaussian curvature and are non-developable surfaces--a sphere is an
example of a non-developable shape or surface since it cannot be
rolled into a plane.
At any point on a surface, there can be found a normal vector that
is at right angles to the surface; planes containing the normal
vector are called normal planes. The intersection of a normal plane
and the surface will form a curve called a normal section and the
curvature of this curve is the normal curvature. The normal
curvature varies depending upon which normal plane is considered.
One such plane will have a maximum value for such curvature, and
another will have a minimum value. These maximum and minimum values
are called the principal curvatures.
Geometrically, Gaussian curvature is defined as the intrinsic
measure of curvature of any surface, depending only on the
distances that are measured on the surface, not on the way it is
isometrically embedded in any space. Gaussian curvature can also be
defined as the product of principal curvatures, K.sub.max and
K.sub.min. Since the Gaussian curvature of a developable surface is
zero everywhere, the maximum and minimum principal curvatures of a
developable surface can be written as Equation (1):
K.sub.max=H+|H|,K.sub.min=H-|H| (1) K.sub.max=2H,.kappa._min=0 when
H>0, (2) K_max=0,.kappa._min=0 when H=0, (3)
K_max=0,.kappa._min=2H when H<0, (4) where H is the mean
curvature of the surface. K.sub.max in equation (2) and K.sub.min
in equation (4) are termed as the non-zero principal curvature of a
surface.
In some embodiments, a cold-formed glass substrate has a complex
developable shape. A complex developable shape refers to a
combination of two or more developable shapes such as cones,
cylinders, oloids, planes and tangent developable surfaces. For
instance, a complex developable shape may be a combination of at
least a planar and at least a concave surface, or at least a planar
and at least a convex surface, or at least a concave and at least a
convex surface.
In some embodiments, a complex developable shape may also be formed
by a combination of planar, conical, cylindrical, and other
developable surfaces and involve both inward and outward bending.
In some embodiments, the combination of planar, conical,
cylindrical, and other developable surfaces may be in such a way
that no sharp angles form while going from one developable surface
to another.
In some embodiments, a complex developable shape or a complex
developable surface may include one or more planar portions, one or
more conical portions, one or more cylindrical portions, and/or one
or more other developable surface portions.
In some embodiments, the article may include a glass substrate that
is provided as a sheet and that is strengthened (prior to being
shaped into some embodiments of the article described herein). For
example, the glass substrate may be strengthened by any one or more
of thermal strengthening, chemical strengthening, and mechanical
strengthening or by a combination thereof. In some embodiments,
strengthened glass substrates have a compressive stress (CS) layer
extending from a surface of the substrate thereof to a compressive
stress depth (or depth of compressive stress layer or DOL). The
depth of compression is the depth at which compressive stress
switches to tensile stress. The region within the glass substrate
exhibiting a tensile stress is often referred to as a central
tension or CT layer.
As used herein, "thermally strengthened" refers to glass substrates
that are heat treated to improve the strength of the substrate. In
thermally-strengthened glass substrates, the CS layer is formed by
heating the substrate to an elevated temperature above the glass
transition temperature (i.e., near or approaching the glass
softening point), and then cooling the glass surface regions more
rapidly than the inner regions of the glass. The differential
cooling rates between the surface regions and the inner regions
generates a residual CS layer at the surfaces.
Factors that impact the degree of surface compression generated by
thermal strengthening processes include the air-quench temperature,
volume, and other variables that create a surface compression of at
least 10,000 pounds per square inch (psi). In chemically
strengthened glass substrates, the replacement of smaller ions by
larger ions at a temperature below that at which the glass network
can relax produces a distribution of ions across the surface of the
glass that results in a stress profile. The larger size volume of
the incoming ion produces the CS layer extending from a surface and
the CT layer in the center of the glass. Chemical strengthening may
be achieved by an ion exchange process, which includes immersion of
a glass substrate into a molten salt bath for a predetermined
period of time to allow ions at or near the surface(s) of the glass
substrate to be exchanged for larger metal ions from the salt bath.
In some embodiments, the temperature of the molten salt bath is
from about 375.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. and the
predetermined time period is in the range from about four to about
eight hours. In one example, sodium ions in a glass substrate are
replaced by potassium ions from the molten bath, such as a
potassium nitrate salt bath, though other alkali metal ions having
larger atomic radii, such as rubidium or cesium, can replace
smaller alkali metal ions in the glass. In another example, lithium
ions in a glass substrate are replaced by potassium and/or sodium
ions from the molten bath that may include potassium nitrate,
sodium nitrate or a combination thereof, although other alkali
metal ions having larger atomic radii, such as rubidium or cesium,
can replace smaller alkali metal ions in the glass. In some
embodiments, smaller alkali metal ions in the glass substrate can
be replaced by Ag+ ions. Similarly, other alkali metal salts such
as, but not limited to, sulfates, phosphates, halides, and the like
may be used in the ion exchange process. The glass substrate may be
immersed in a single bath or in multiple and successive baths which
may have the same or different composition and/or temperature from
one another. In some embodiments, the immersion in such multiple
baths may be for different periods of time from one another.
In mechanically-strengthened glass substrates, the CS layer is
generated by a mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion
between portions of the glass substrate.
In strengthened glass substrates, the DOL is related to the CT
value by the following approximate relationship: (Equation 5)
.apprxeq..times..times. ##EQU00001## where thickness is the total
thickness of the strengthened glass substrate and DOL depth of
layer (DOL) is the depth of the compressive stress. Unless
otherwise specified, central tension CT and compressive stress CS
are expressed herein in MegaPascals (MPa), whereas thickness and
depth of layer DOL are expressed in millimeters or microns. Unless
otherwise described, the CS value is the value measured at the
surface and the CT value is the tensile stress value (as determined
by Equation 5).
In some embodiments, a strengthened glass substrate can have a
surface CS of 300 MPa or greater, e.g., 400 MPa or greater, 450 MPa
or greater, 500 MPa or greater, 550 MPa or greater, 600 MPa or
greater, 650 MPa or greater, 700 MPa or greater, 750 MPa or greater
or 800 MPa or greater. In some embodiments, the surface CS is the
maximum CS in the glass substrate. The strengthened glass substrate
may have a DOL of 15 micrometers or greater, 20 micrometers or
greater (e.g., 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 micrometers or greater)
and/or a maximum CT value of 10 MPa or greater, 20 MPa or greater,
30 MPa or greater, 40 MPa or greater (e.g., 42 MPa, 45 MPa, or 50
MPa or greater) but less than 100 MPa (e.g., 95, 90, 85, 80, 75,
70, 65, 60, 55 MPa or less). In one or more specific embodiments,
the strengthened glass substrate has one or more of the following:
a surface CS greater than 500 MPa, a DOL greater than 15
micrometers, and a maximum CT of greater than 18 MPa.
The CS and DOL may be determined by a surface stress meter such the
commercially available FSM-6000 instrument, manufactured by Orihara
Industrial, Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Surface stress measurements
rely upon the accurate measurement of the stress optical
coefficient (SOC), which is related to the birefringence of the
glass. SOC in turn is measured by those methods that are known in
the art, such as fiber and four point bend methods, both of which
are described in ASTM standard C770-98 (2013), entitled "Standard
Test Method for Measurement of Glass Stress-Optical Coefficient,"
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety, and a bulk cylinder method.
The materials for the glass substrates may be varied. The glass
substrates used to form the articles described herein can be
amorphous or crystalline. In this regard, the use of the term
"glass" is general and is intended to encompass more than strictly
amorphous materials. Amorphous glass substrates according to some
embodiments can be selected from soda lime glass, alkali
aluminosilicate glass, alkali containing borosilicate glass and
alkali aluminoborosilicate glass. Examples of crystalline glass
substrates can include glass-ceramics, sapphire or spinel. Examples
of glass-ceramics include Li.sub.2O--Al.sub.2O.sub.3--SiO.sub.2
system (i.e. LAS-System) glass ceramics,
MgO--Al.sub.2O.sub.3--SiO.sub.2 System (i.e. MAS-System) glass
ceramics, glass ceramics including crystalline phases of any one or
more of mullite, spinel, .alpha.-quartz, .beta.-quartz solid
solution, petalite, lithium disilicate, .beta.-spodumene,
nepheline, and alumina.
Glass substrates may be provided using a variety of different
processes. For example, exemplary glass substrate forming methods
include float glass processes and down-draw processes such as
fusion draw and slot draw. A glass substrate prepared by a float
glass process may be characterized by smooth surfaces and uniform
thickness is made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten
metal, typically tin. In an example process, molten glass that is
fed onto the surface of the molten tin bed forms a floating glass
ribbon. As the glass ribbon flows along the tin bath, the
temperature is gradually decreased until the glass ribbon
solidifies into a solid glass substrate that can be lifted from the
tin onto rollers. Once off the bath, the glass substrate can be
cooled further and annealed to reduce internal stress.
Down-draw processes produce glass substrates having a uniform
thickness that possess relatively pristine surfaces, especially
those produced by the fusion draw process. Because the average
flexural strength of the glass substrate is controlled by the
amount and size of surface flaws, a pristine surface that has had
minimal contact has a higher initial strength. Down-drawn glass
substrates may be drawn into a sheet having a thickness of less
than about 2 millimeters. In addition, down drawn glass substrates
have a very flat, smooth surface that can be used in its final
application without costly grinding and polishing.
The fusion draw process, for example, uses a drawing tank that has
a channel for accepting molten glass raw material. The channel has
weirs that are open at the top along the length of the channel on
both sides of the channel. When the channel fills with molten
material, the molten glass overflows the weirs. Due to gravity, the
molten glass flows down the outside surfaces of the drawing tank as
two flowing glass films. These outside surfaces of the drawing tank
extend down and inwardly so that they join at an edge below the
drawing tank. The two flowing glass films join at this edge to fuse
and form a single flowing sheet of glass. The fusion draw method
offers the advantage that, because the two glass films flowing over
the channel fuse together, neither of the outside surfaces of the
resulting single sheet of glass comes in contact with any part of
the apparatus. Thus, the surface properties of the fusion drawn
sheet of glass are not affected by such contact.
The slot draw process is distinct from the fusion draw method. In
slow draw processes, the molten raw material glass is provided to a
drawing tank. The bottom of the drawing tank has an open slot with
a nozzle that extends the length of the slot. The molten glass
flows through the slot/nozzle and is drawn downward as a continuous
sheet and into an annealing region.
Exemplary compositions for use in the glass substrate will now be
described. One example glass composition comprises SiO.sub.2,
B.sub.2O.sub.3 and Na.sub.2O, where
(SiO.sub.2+B.sub.2O.sub.3).gtoreq.66 mol. %, and Na.sub.2O.gtoreq.9
mol. %. Suitable glass compositions, in some embodiments, further
comprise at least one of K.sub.2O, MgO, and CaO. In some
embodiments, the glass compositions can comprise 61-75 mol. %
SiO.sub.2; 7-15 mol. % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; 0-12 mol. % B.sub.2O.sub.3;
9-21 mol. % Na.sub.2O; 0-4 mol. % K.sub.2O; 0-7 mol. % MgO; and 0-3
mol. % CaO.
A further example glass composition comprises: 60-70 mol. %
SiO.sub.2; 6-14 mol. % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; 0-15 mol. % B.sub.2O.sub.3;
0-15 mol. % Li.sub.2O; 0-20 mol. % Na.sub.2O; 0-10 mol. % K.sub.2O;
0-8 mol. % MgO; 0-10 mol. % CaO; 0-5 mol. % ZrO.sub.2; 0-1 mol. %
SnO.sub.2; 0-1 mol. % CeO.sub.2; less than 50 ppm As.sub.2O.sub.3;
and less than 50 ppm Sb.sub.2O.sub.3; where 12 mol. %
(Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O).ltoreq.20 mol. % and 0 mol.
%.ltoreq.(MgO+CaO).ltoreq.10 mol. %.
A still further example glass composition comprises: 63.5-66.5 mol.
% SiO.sub.2; 8-12 mol. % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; 0-3 mol. %
B.sub.2O.sub.3; 0-5 mol. % Li.sub.2O; 8-18 mol. % Na.sub.2O; 0-5
mol. % K.sub.2O; 1-7 mol. % MgO; 0-2.5 mol. % CaO; 0-3 mol. %
ZrO.sub.2; 0.05-0.25 mol. % SnO.sub.2; 0.05-0.5 mol. % CeO.sub.2;
less than 50 ppm As.sub.2O.sub.3; and less than 50 ppm
Sb.sub.2O.sub.3; where 14 mol.
%.ltoreq.(Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O).ltoreq.18 mol. % and 2 mol.
%.ltoreq.(MgO+CaO).ltoreq.7 mol. %.
In some embodiments, an alkali aluminosilicate glass composition
comprises alumina, at least one alkali metal and, in some
embodiments, greater than 50 mol. % SiO.sub.2, in some embodiments
at least 58 mol. % SiO.sub.2, and in some embodiments at least 60
mol. % SiO.sub.2, wherein the ratio
((Al.sub.2O.sub.3+B.sub.2O.sub.3)/.SIGMA. modifiers)>1, where in
the ratio the components are expressed in mol. % and the modifiers
are alkali metal oxides. This glass composition, in some
embodiments, comprises: 58-72 mol. % SiO.sub.2; 9-17 mol. %
Al.sub.2O.sub.3; 2-12 mol. % B.sub.2O.sub.3; 8-16 mol. % Na.sub.2O;
and 0-4 mol. % K.sub.2O, wherein the ratio
((Al.sub.2O.sub.3+B.sub.2O.sub.3)/.SIGMA.modifiers)>1.
In some embodiments, the glass substrate may include an alkali
aluminosilicate glass composition comprising: 64-68 mol. %
SiO.sub.2; 12-16 mol. % Na.sub.2O; 8-12 mol. % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; 0-3
mol. % B.sub.2O.sub.3; 2-5 mol. % K.sub.2O; 4-6 mol. % MgO; and 0-5
mol. % CaO, wherein: 66 mol.
%.ltoreq.SiO.sub.2+B.sub.2O.sub.3+CaO.ltoreq.69 mol. %;
Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O+B.sub.2O.sub.3+MgO+CaO+SrO>10 mol. %; 5 mol.
%.ltoreq.MgO+CaO+SrO.ltoreq.8 mol. %;
(Na.sub.2O+B.sub.2O.sub.3)-Al.sub.2O.sub.3.ltoreq.2 mol. %; 2 mol.
%.ltoreq.Na.sub.2O-Al.sub.2O.sub.3.ltoreq.6 mol. %; and 4 mol.
%.ltoreq.(Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O)-Al.sub.2O.sub.3.ltoreq.10 mol. %.
In some embodiments, the glass substrate may comprise an alkali
aluminosilicate glass composition comprising: 2 mol % or more of
Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and/or ZrO.sub.2, or 4 mol % or more of
Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and/or ZrO.sub.2.
In some embodiments, the compositions used for a glass substrate
may be batched with 0-2 mol. % of at least one fining agent
selected from a group that includes Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, NaCl, NaF,
NaBr, K.sub.2SO.sub.4, KCl, KF, KBr, and SnO.sub.2. The articles
may be a single sheet of glass or a laminate. According to some
embodiments, a laminate refers to opposing glass substrates, such
as the glass substrates described herein. In some embodiments, the
glass substrates may be separated by an interlayer, for example,
poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB), ethylenevinylacetate (EVA), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), ionomers, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). A
glass substrate forming part of a laminate can be strengthened
(chemically, thermally, and/or mechanically) as described above.
Thus, laminates according to some embodiments comprise at least two
glass substrates bonded together by an interlayer in which a first
glass substrate defines a first ply and a second glass substrate
defines a second ply. The second ply may face the user of a display
(i.e., the interior of a vehicle, the user-facing panel of an
appliance or the user-facing surface of an architectural element),
while the first ply may face the opposite direction. In vehicle
applications such as automotive glazings, the first ply is exposed
to a vehicle or automobile interior and the second ply faces an
outside environment of the automobile. In some embodiments, the
user interface may be from the interior, from the exterior or from
both the interior and the exterior of the laminate, when used in
automotive glazings. In vehicle applications such as automotive
interiors, the second ply is unexposed and placed on an underlying
support (e.g., a display, dashboard, center console, instrument
panel, seat back, seat front, floor board, door panel, pillar, arm
rest etc.), and the first ply is exposed to the vehicle or
automobile interior and thus the user. In architectural
applications, the second ply is exposed to a building, room, or
furniture interior and the first ply faces an outside environment
of the building, room or furniture.
Although various specific glasses are described herein, in some
embodiments, any cold-formable glass may be used.
Some embodiments of the articles disclosed herein are useful in
automobile interiors because such articles provide a non-planar
cover compatible with curved displays. To be compatible with a
non-planar display, a cover should match the shape of the
non-planar display closely to insure optimal fit and enable a high
quality viewing. It is also desirable to provide a cover that is
high optical quality and cost effective. Thermal forming a cover to
the precise shape presents challenges in attaining that desired
shape. In addition, when glass is used, it is a challenge to
minimize the downside effects of heating the cover to its softening
point (e.g., distortion, and marking). The concept of cold-forming
addresses these issues and permits the use of glass but creates new
challenges in providing a sufficient support to maintain the
cold-form shape and provide rigidity. The ability to cold-form a
flexible glass substrate to the prescribed shape presents the
opportunity for a high quality, cost effective solution.
Moreover, the articles described herein are also compatible with
coatings and surface treatments that are often desirable. Examples
of such coatings include anti-reflective (AR), antiglare (AG) and
decorative and/or functional coatings. Examples of such surface
treatments include AG surfaces, a haptic surface that provides
tactile feedback, and the like. AR and AG coatings and AG surfaces
may improve display visibility in a variety of challenging ambient
lighting conditions. High-quality multi-layer AR coating processes
are typically applied utilizing vapor deposition or sputter coating
techniques. These techniques are usually limited to deposition on
flat surfaces due to the nature of the process. Providing these
coatings on a non-planar three dimensional surface is challenging
and further adds to the cost of the process. Decorative ink
coatings can be applied to a variety of shaped/curved surfaces,
however the process to apply these coating to flat surfaces are
simpler, better established, and more cost effective. Further,
surface treatments (typically formed by etching treatments) are
also typically applied to flat surfaces.
In some embodiments, various processes to attach a display to a
piece of glass intended to be cold-formed to a specific shape, are
described. The ability to provide a cold-formed curved glass
article provides a significant advantage in eliminating the thermal
forming/bending process. Elimination of the thermal forming process
is both a cost and a quality improvement. The cost is obvious in
that it eliminates a process step; the quality is improved due to
not heating the glass to a softening point to shape it. Heating the
glass to an elevated temperature can disrupt the pristine glass
surface, both optically and dimensionally. Glass for auto interior
is expected to have a high percentage of display application; the
displays being very sensitive to glass distortion and flatness,
favoring the cold-form process. One step to the successful
implementation will be the process of attaching or laminating the
display to the cover glass.
In some embodiments described herein, the use of a "die" is
described. As used herein, a die includes a structure used to
impart a desired shape to a glass substrate, and to attach a
non-planar rigid support structure to the glass substrate. The die
itself is not a part of the finished article, but rather may be
used repeatedly to create many finished articles. In one or more
embodiments, the term "die" refers to a tool used to impart a
desired shape upon an object. In such embodiments, "die" has at
least two parts, a first part and a second part, that may be
pressed together to impart a desired shape on a flexible object
disposed between the first and second parts. Once the non-planar
rigid support structure is bonded to the cold-formed glass
substrate, the die may be removed, and the non-planar rigid support
structure maintains the desired shape of the cold-formed glass
substrate. A die may be reused many times to reproducibly and
precisely create the same shape for multiple articles comprising a
non-planar rigid support structure bonded to a cold-formed glass
substrate.
In some embodiments, an injection molding process is used to
transform the flat glass substrate described herein to cold-formed
and curved article created by injection molding a support structure
on a major surface of the glass substrate, thus providing a
superior support structure to hold the glass substrate to the
prescribed shape and having the flexibility to match the curved
display.
In some embodiments, injection molding is used to form a non-planar
rigid support structure bonded to a surface of a cold-formed glass
substrate. Any suitable injection molding process and material(s)
may be used. For example, a die may be used to cold form a glass
substrate and hold it in place while a non-planar rigid support
structure is injection molded and attached to the cold formed glass
substrate using channels in the die. For example, polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are two common
materials used to injection mold the non-planar rigid support
structure. Reaction injection molding (RIM) may be used in some
embodiments. Common materials used in RIM include polyurethane
polyureas, polyisocyanurates, polyesters, polyphenols,
polyepoxides, and nylon 6. Different materials may have different
operating parameters. The machines, operating parameters (e.g.,
pressure, flow rate, temperature), and mold design may be different
for different materials. Typical injection molding temperatures
range from 300.degree. F. to 450.degree. F., and typical process
pressures can range from the 200 psi to higher than 1000 psi. But,
any suitable process parameters may be used.
In some embodiments, a direct bonding process is used to cold-form
and bond a previously flat glass substrate to a non-planar rigid
support structure. For example, a die may be used to press the
glass substrate in a cold-formed shape while pressing the glass
against the non-planar rigid support structure. Any suitable type
of bonding, such as adhesive, may be used to attach the glass
substrate to the non-planar rigid support structure.
Either injection molding or direct bonding could provide support
over a significant portion of the major surface of the glass
substrate to support and maintain the cold-formed shape, while
minimizing the stresses imparted on the glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the methods described and the resulting
articles exhibit high quality and enable the integration of optical
and other features.
The articles described herein are expected to exhibit superior fit
to curved displays and high optical quality. Flexible glass
substrates may possess a flexible characteristic able to
accommodate the curved display. Cold-forming maintains the high
quality of the flat glass substrate that would otherwise be
diminished in a thermal forming process. This concept also allows
excellent stress management, minimizing the cold-form stress by
providing support over a large area.
In some embodiments, the articles can easily integrate high quality
coatings and surface treatments on a curved substrate surface,
where such coatings are typically limited to flat parts. The
coatings and/or surface treatments may be applied to a glass
substrate prior to cold-forming, and cold-forming the coated and/or
treated glass substrate in turn avoids the issues associated with
thermal forming (i.e., damage to the coating and/or surface
treatment from handling and/or high processing temperature).
In some embodiments, articles may have one or more coatings. The
coatings may be any suitable coating including decorative ink
coating, antireflective coating, or a combination thereof. In cases
where more than one coatings are present, for example, the
decorative ink coating and antireflective coating or any other
coatings, may overlap, may be in different parts of the same side
of the flexible glass substrate, or may be on different sides of
the flexible glass substrate.
In some embodiments, a roller (preferably of soft materials, for
example, of Teflon), a roller tape, pins, or a combination thereof
is used to push the flexible glass substrate to conform to the
shape of a rigid support structure, after a layer of adhesive is
applied on the rigid support structure. Force may be applied to and
maintained by multiple rollers and/or pins by any suitable means.
For example, pressure chambers or a manifold that can apply and
maintain a constant pressure on all rollers, or all pins
pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanically or electronically
through solenoid valves. A flexible mold may be similarly used.
In some embodiments, a roller, roller tape, array of pins, or
flexible mold can be as wide as the flexible glass substrate. In
another case it also can be as narrow as 10 mm. In the latter case,
the flexible mold can also be applied along the both edges and/or
along the center line. In most cases, a roller, roller tape or pins
start from one side of the cover glass item, and moves toward the
other end while aligned with the generation line of the developable
surface. This method can avoid glass buckling and compound bending
in the process of cold-forming, and hence can eliminate the risk of
glass breakage caused by unwanted glass buckling and compound
bending, and can enable cold bending to a smaller radius.
In some embodiments, as used herein, "generation line" refers to a
line that defines a boundary between areas of a substrate where
force has already been applied to press a flexible glass substrate
against the adhesive layer, and areas of the substrate where such
force has not yet been applied. The generation line is aligned with
the zero principal curvature direction of the 3D shape. During a
process of bonding the flexible glass substrate to the support
structure, the generation line moves across the flexible glass
substrate to sequentially press different parts of the flexible
glass substrate against the support structure. Once the generation
line has passed a particular part of the flexible glass substrate,
the force is maintained until an adhesive holding the flexible
glass substrate against the support structure is cured.
Force may be maintained in an area by application of force in
spaced or periodic parts of the area. For example, once a roller
tape passes over an area, or spaced pins have been actuated, spaced
rollers or pins maintain the force. Gaps between the rollers do not
negate maintenance of force, because the spaced rollers hold the
flexible glass substrate against the support structure sufficiently
well that the flexible glass substrate and the support structure do
not move significantly relative to each other. If each pin or
roller applies the same force, the maintained force is considered
"uniform" even if parts of the area over which the generation line
has passed are in contact with a roller or pin while others are in
between rollers/pins.
Additional disclosure relevant to cold-forming 3D shapes can be
found in PCT/US2015/039871 (WO2016/007815) to McFarland et al.,
entitled "Cold formed glass applique"; the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In some embodiments, cold-formed cover glass articles are provided,
including articles with a complex 3D shape, as well as the forming
process to make these cover glass articles. The glass layer in
these cold-formed 3D cover glass articles is preferably
strengthened glass, including thermally tempered, chemically
strengthened, and/or glass laminates. In some embodiments, more
preferably, this glass layer is Corning Gorilla glass.
Thin Corning Gorilla glass has a number of appealing attributes as
cover glass for instrument panels and other displays, such as,
higher scratch resistance, better optical performance, and better
impact resistance. The superior surface stress structure, strength
and thickness of Corning Gorilla glass enables the use of
cold-forming to make 3D shapes, as stated in PCT/US2015/039871
(WO2016/007815), which is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
In some embodiments, a cold-forming process may be used to make the
above-mentioned 3D cover glass articles. For example, a roller or
pins (preferably of soft materials, for examples, of Teflon) are
used to push the flexible glass substrate to conform to the shape
of the rigid support structure, after a layer of adhesive is
applied on the rigid support structure. Behind the roller, a
flexible mold with multiple stiff pins (also preferably coated with
Teflon, so as to avoid the issue of scratching glass) is closed to
hold the cold formed glass in place.
In some embodiments, a flexible mold can be as wide as the top
flexible glass substrate. In another case it also can be as narrow
as 10 mm. In the latter case, the flexible mold can also be applied
along the both edges and/or along the center line. In most cases,
the roller starts from one side of the cover glass item, and moves
toward the other end while aligned with the generation line of the
developable surface. This method can avoid glass buckling and
compound bending in the process of cold-forming, and hence can
eliminate the risk of glass breakage caused by unwanted glass
buckling and compound bending, and can enable cold bending to a
smaller radius.
In some embodiments, the display can be attached to the flexible
glass substrate by optical bonding, air gap bonding, or any
suitable means.
Optical bonding, as referred to herein, is a method of attaching a
glass substrate to a display using an optically transparent
adhesive. The transparent adhesive is applied over the entire
surface between the display and the glass substrate. This bonding
method removes all air and air bubbles from the viewing or the
display area. The removal of air and air bubbles between the
display and the glass substrate eliminates surface-to-air
reflections, thereby enhancing the contrast and viewing angles,
especially significant in sunlight conditions. The most commonly
used optical adhesives for optical bonding processes are silicone,
epoxy and polyurethanes.
Air gap bonding, as referred to herein, is an alternative method of
attaching a glass substrate to a display using an adhesive. In
contrast to optical bonding, an adhesive is applied between the
display and the glass substrate around the periphery of the display
or the inactive areas of the display. Where the adhesive does not
overlap with the viewing area of the display, the adhesive may be
transparent or opaque. This method results in some "air gap"
between the display and the glass substrate. Air gap bonding is the
most effective and common bonding method used for touch screens and
panels.
Some embodiments described herein have at least one of many
advantages listed below: i. Flexibility of manufacturing process:
a. the display can be attached to the glass substrate or the rigid
support structure. b. the display can be attached to the glass
substrate either before or after the rigid support structure is
attached to the glass substrate. ii. Improved lamination
quality--The support structures are permanent, rigid fixtures that
prevent any relative movement between the display and the glass
substrate in the first during cold-forming of other portions of the
substrate, improving the lamination quality. iii. Choice of
materials for support structures--The support structures can be
made of any material including metals, ceramics, alloys, reinforced
plastic and rubber. iv. Stress isolation to prevent
delamination--The fixed shape maintained by the support structures
isolates any stress induced by further processing, thereby
eliminating delamination of the display from the substrate. v. Ease
of coating or surface treatment of glass substrate prior to
cold-forming. vi. The proposed process improves lamination quality,
enhances yield, and reduces cost while offering design
flexibility.
The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The different parts
of various figures may have some parts not drawn to scale relative
to other parts in order to better illustrate concepts.
FIG. 1A illustrates a top view 100 of a flexible glass substrate
110 with a first rigid support structure 120. The first portion 130
of the flexible glass substrate 110 is the portion of the area of
the flexible glass substrate 110 where the first rigid support
structure 120 is fixed. The first portion 130 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 has a first fixed shape 135. The boundaries of the
first portion 130 coincide with the outer boundary of the first
rigid support structure 120. A gap between the outer boundaries of
the first rigid support structure 120 and the boundaries of the
first portion 130 is shown and exaggerated for illustration
purposes only. The first fixed shape 135 is not illustrated in the
figures and it may have a planar or a non-planar shape.
The first portion 130 is illustrated in FIG. 1A as the dotted area
around the first rigid support structure 120. The second portion
132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 is defined as the area of
the flexible glass substrate 110 that is not fixed by the first
rigid support structure.
In some embodiments, the first portion 130 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 can be fixed with the first rigid support structure
120 by direct bonding, die molding, press molding or using any
suitable means.
In some embodiments, the first rigid support structure 120 may be
made of a material selected from the group metals, alloys,
ceramics, plastics, rubbers, reinforced plastics, and glasses or
combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the first fixed shape 135 of the first portion
130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 may be a shape selected
from the group circular, square, rectangular, polygon, triangular,
and oval or combinations thereof.
FIG. 1B illustrates a cross-section view 150 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 with a first rigid support structure 120,
corresponding to the plane 1-1' shown in FIG. 1A.
FIGS. 2-8 illustrate top views and corresponding cross-sections of
various combinations of attaching the first display 140 to the
first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 or to the
first rigid support structure 120. Some of the possible
combinations include, but are not limited to, a planar display
attached to a planar glass substrate, a planar display attached to
a non-planar glass substrate, a planar display attached to a rigid
support structure, a non-planar display attached to a planar
substrate, a non-planar display attached to a non-planar substrate,
a non-planar display attached to a rigid support structure.
In some embodiments, further combinations may include various
bonding methods such as optical bonding, or air gap bonding or any
suitable means to attach the display to the glass substrate or the
rigid support structure.
FIG. 2A illustrates a top view 200 of a first display 140 having a
planar shape directly attached to the first portion 130 of the
flexible glass substrate 110, also having a planar shape. In some
embodiments, the first display 140 may be attached to the first
portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 via optical
bonding.
FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-section view 250 of the first display
140 having a planar shape directly attached to the first portion
130 of the flexible glass substrate 110, corresponding to the plane
2-2' shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A illustrates a top view 300 of a first display 140 having a
planar shape attached to the first portion 130 of the flexible
glass substrate 110, also having a planar shape, via air gap
bonding. The optical adhesive 310 may be applied around the
periphery of the display such that a hermetic seal is created
between the first display 140 and the flexible glass substrate 110.
The air gap bonding method results in an air gap 320, defined as
the inactive area between the display and the glass substrate.
In some embodiments, the area of the air gap 320 may vary depending
on the method of attaching the display to the substrate or to the
rigid support structure. The area of the air gap 320 may be larger
where the display 140 is attached to the first rigid support
structure 120 as compared to the flexible glass substrate 110.
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section view 350 of the first display
140 having a planar shape attached to the first portion 130 of the
flexible glass substrate 110, corresponding to the plane 3-3' shown
in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A illustrates a top view 400 of a first display 140 attached
to the first rigid support structure 120 using an adhesive 310. In
some embodiments, the first display 140 has a planar shape, same as
the first fixed shape 135 of the first portion 130 of the flexible
glass substrate 110.
FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-section view 450 of the first display
140 attached to the first rigid support structure 120 using an
optical adhesive 310, corresponding to the plane 3-3' shown in FIG.
3A.
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view 500 of a first display 140
attached to the flexible glass substrate 110 via air gap bonding
using the optical adhesive 310. In some embodiments, the first
display 140 has a planar shape and the first fixed shape 135 of the
first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 is
non-planar.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section view 600 of a first display 140
attached to the first rigid support structure 120 via air gap
bonding, optical bonding, or by any suitable means. In some
embodiments, the first display 140 has a planar shape and the first
fixed shape 135 of the first portion 130 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 is non-planar.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view 700 of a first display 140
directly attached to the flexible glass substrate 110 via optical
bonding, direct bonding, or by any suitable means. In some
embodiments, the first display 140 has a non-planar shape and the
first fixed shape 135 of the first portion 130 of the flexible
glass substrate 110 is non-planar.
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section view 800 of a first display 140
attached to the first rigid support structure 120 via air gap
bonding, optical bonding, direct bonding, or by any suitable means.
In some embodiments, the first display 140 has a non-planar shape
and the first fixed shape 135 of the first portion 130 of the
flexible glass substrate 110 is non-planar.
In some embodiments, the first display 140 is attached to the first
portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 after fixing the
first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 with a first
rigid support structure 120 into a fixed first shape 135.
FIG. 9A illustrates a process flow chart of attaching a display to
the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 after
fixing the first portion of the substrate with a rigid support
structure into a fixed first shape. The steps are performed in the
following order: Step 910: fixing a first portion 130 of a flexible
glass substrate 110 into a first fixed shape 135 with a first rigid
support structure 120; Step 920: attaching a first display 140 to
the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 or to the
first rigid support structure 120; Step 930: after fixing the first
portion 130 and attaching the first display 140, and while
maintaining the first fixed shape 135 of the first portion 130 of
the flexible glass substrate 110 and the attached first display
140, cold-forming a second portion 132 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 to a second fixed shape 137; Step 940: fixing the
second portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 into the
second fixed shape 137 with a second rigid support structure
125.
In some embodiments, wherein the first display 140 is planar and
the first fixed shape 135 is planar, the display 140 is attached to
the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 before
fixing the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110
with a first rigid support structure 120 into a fixed first shape
135.
FIG. 9B illustrates a process flow chart of attaching a display to
the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 before
fixing the first portion of the substrate with a rigid support
structure into a fixed first shape. The steps are performed in the
following order: Step 920: attaching a first display 140 to the
first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 or to the
first rigid support structure 120; Step 910: fixing a first portion
130 of a flexible glass substrate 110 into a first fixed shape 135
with a first rigid support structure 120; Step 930: after fixing
the first portion 130 and attaching the first display 140, and
while maintaining the first fixed shape 135 of the first portion
130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 and the attached first
display 140, cold-forming a second portion 132 of the flexible
glass substrate 110 to a second fixed shape 137; Step 940: fixing
the second portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 into the
second fixed shape 137 with a second rigid support structure
125.
FIG. 10 A illustrates a top view 1000 of a display 140 attached to
the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 and a
second portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 cold-formed
into a non-planar shape and fixed into the second fixed shape 137
by the second rigid support structure 125. The non-planarity of the
second portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 cannot be
illustrated in FIG. 10A due to the viewing angle. In this
embodiment, a planar display is attached to the planar first
portion of a planar flexible glass substrate, but it should be
understood and appreciated that a number of other combinations of
substrate and display shapes are also possible.
FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-section view 1050, along 5-5' shown in
FIG. 10A, of a display 140 attached to the first portion 130 of the
flexible glass substrate 110 and a second portion 132 of the
flexible glass substrate 110 cold-formed into a non-planar shape
and fixed into the second fixed shape 137 by the second rigid
support structure 125.
In some embodiments, as discussed earlier, the first display 140
may be attached to the first portion 130 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 or to the first rigid support structure in various
combinations, while the second portion 132 of the flexible glass
substrate is cold-formed into a non-planar shape.
In some embodiments, a planar display 140 is attached to a
non-planar first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110
using an optical adhesive 310 while the second portion 132 of the
flexible glass substrate is cold-formed into a non-planar
shape.
In some embodiments, a planar display 140 is attached to the first
rigid structure 120 by suitable means while the second portion 132
of the flexible glass substrate is cold-formed into a non-planar
shape.
In some embodiments, a non-planar display 140 is attached to a
non-planar first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110
using an optical adhesive 310 while the second portion 132 of the
flexible glass substrate is cold-formed into a non-planar
shape.
In some embodiments, a non-planar display 140 is attached to the
first rigid structure 120 by suitable means while the second
portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate is cold-formed into a
non-planar shape.
The proposed process variations and design options of attaching the
display to the first portion of the flexible glass substrate
renders the manufacturing process very flexible and maintain
superior quality.
In some embodiments, one or more first displays 140 may be attached
to one or more first portions 130 of the flexible glass substrate
110 such that the displays 140 are not in direct contact with each
other. FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-section view 1100 of two first
displays 140 attached to two first portions 130 of the flexible
glass substrate 110 separated by a second portion 132 of the
flexible glass substrate 110. In some embodiments, the first
portions 130 may have a planar shape, or may have a non-planar
shape, or one of the first portions 130 may have a planar and the
other one may have a non-planar shape. The second portion 132 may
be cold-formed into a second fixed shape 137 that is non-planar,
not illustrated in FIG. 11. The first display 140 may be attached
either to the flexible glass substrate 110 or to the first rigid
support structure 120 in any of the various combinations described
above.
In some embodiments, one or more first displays 140 may be attached
to the first portion 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 such
that the displays 140 are separated by a portion of the first rigid
support structure 120. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-section view
1200 of two first displays 140 attached to a first portion 130 of
the flexible glass substrate 110 separated by portion of the first
rigid support structure 120.
In some embodiments, the process may further comprise fixing a
third portion of the flexible glass substrate into a third fixed
shape with a third rigid support structure; attaching a second
display to the third portion of the flexible glass substrate or to
the third rigid support structure; wherein cold-forming the second
portion of the flexible glass substrate to the second fixed shape
and fixing the second portion of the flexible glass substrate into
the second fixed shape with the second rigid support structure is
performed after fixing the third portion and attaching the second
display, and while maintaining the third fixed shape of the third
portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached second
display.
FIG. 13A illustrates a top view 1300 of two displays 140 attached
to the first portions 130 of the flexible glass substrate 110 such
that the displays 140 are not in direct contact with each other and
separated by the second rigid support structure 125. The second
portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 is cold-formed and
fixed into a second fixed shape 137 by the second rigid support
structure 125. The fixed second shape 137 is non-planar.
The non-planarity of the second portion 132 after cold-forming is
not visible in FIG. 13A due to the top viewing angle, but is
clearly seen in FIG. 13B, a cross-section view 1350 of FIG. 13A
corresponding to the 6-6' plane.
FIG. 14 illustrates a process 1400 of cold-forming the second
portion 132 of the flexible glass substrate 110 using sequentially
activated pins 1410. The pin block 1420 may have cavities 1430
drilled or machined through a portion of the height of the pin
block such that the pins 1410 can move up and down determined by
the contour of the portion of the second rigid support structure
125 coated with an adhesive (not shown in the figure), against
which the flexible glass substrate 110 is being pressed. The length
of the pins 1410 protruding out of the pin block 1420 can be
adjusted using a clamping mechanism. In some embodiments, the
clamps 1482 and 1484 operate by receiving an input signal from an
actuator, for example, clamps 1482 and 1484 are shown in a locked
configuration 1490 and clamps 1482 and 1484 are shown in an
unlocked configuration 1480.
In some embodiments, the pin block 1420 houses a pressure manifold
1470, connected with an inlet connector 1450, to apply and maintain
a constant pressure on the pins 1410 through cavities 1430. The
movement of the pins 1410 in the vertical direction can be
controlled by an actuator mechanism.
In some embodiments, the pins 1410 may have a cross-section
selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, triangular, and
rectangular. The pins 1410 may be made of a material selected from
the group consisting of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites,
rubber, and combinations thereof.
The actuator mechanism may be selected from the group comprising
hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and mechanical input signals, or
combinations thereof. In some embodiments, an individual pin, a
column of pins, a row of pins, an array of pins or any combinations
thereof can be actuated to apply or not apply the force on the
flexible glass substrate 110.
In some embodiments, a column of pins 1410 may be sequentially
actuated such that the initial force is applied by actuating one or
more pins; the generation line is defined by the position of the
pins most recently actuated; and the application of force is
maintained by actuated pins that do not move relative to the
flexible substrate 110 after the generation line has passed, and
until the adhesive is cured.
In some embodiments, pins 1410 may be individually actuated such
that only the second portions 132 of the flexible glass substrate
110 are pushed against the second rigid support structure 125.
In some embodiments, all pins 1410 in a pin block 1420 may be
simultaneously actuated, with the clamps 1482 and 1484 in the
unlocked configuration 1480, such that the initial force is applied
by all the actuated pins; the generation line is defined by the
position of the column of leading pins 1410; moving the generation
line across the substrate to cold-form the flexible glass substrate
110 into the shape of the second rigid support structure 125, while
maintaining the application of force on areas of the flexible
substrate 110 over which the generation line has passed until the
adhesive cures.
In some embodiments, the adhesive applied on the second rigid
support structure 125 is preferably a high-strength structural
adhesive. Exemplary high-strength structural adhesives include
Loctite high-purity M-121 HP Epoxy, 3M Scotch Weld DP 420 Epoxy,
Loctite H4800 Acrylics, 3M Auto Glass Windshield Urethane, and CRL
Dow Corning 995 Silicone.
In some embodiments, the cavities 1430 are connected to the
pressure manifold 1470. The pressure in the pressure manifold 1470
can be created by any suitable means 1460, such as compressed air
or oil through the inlet connector 1450.
In some embodiments, a roller, a roller tape, pins, a roller
attached to an end of a pin or any combinations thereof may be used
to apply and maintain pressure on the flexible glass substrate 110
as it is being pushed against the second support structure 125.
FIG. 15A shows an exemplary process of press molding 1500. The
process comprises pushing the press mold 1510 against the flexible
glass substrate 110 to which the displays 140 and the first rigid
support structures 120 are attached. During bonding, as the press
mold 1510 pushes down on the flexible glass substrate 110 against
the adhesive (not shown) and the underlying second rigid support
structure 125, tensile stresses, compressive stresses or a
combination thereof may be generated in the flexible glass
substrate 110. This stress may result in breakage for some
percentage of articles, reducing yield. Furthermore, the flexible
glass substrate 110 may slide against the uncured adhesive
potentially affecting the thickness uniformity and the conformality
of adhesive layer. Some embodiments described herein such as
cold-forming of chemically-strengthened or thermally-strengthened,
improve upon the press molding process, particularly for articles
having a developable and/or complex developable shape, by providing
sufficient glass strength to overcome the stress created in the
flexible glass substrate 110 during processing, thereby increasing
yield relative to press molding and similar processes. The arrows
indicate the direction of the movement of the mold and the flexible
glass substrate 110 to which the displays 140 and the first rigid
support structures 120 are attached.
FIG. 15B shows a process step 1550 of the press molding process,
where the press mold is retracted once the second portion 132 of
the flexible glass substrate 110 is pressed into the shape of the
second rigid support structure 125, forming the desired end
product. The arrows indicate the direction of the movement of the
press mold away from the end product once the process is
finished.
FIG. 16 shows an example of a part 1600, a section of an automotive
interior display, including but not limited to an instrument
cluster, a console display, or a center stack display, having a
monitor, that may be made in some embodiments. A cold-formed
flexible glass substrate 110 is bonded to a second rigid support
structure 125. The cold-formed glass substrate 110 includes an open
region 1650 that is not in direct contact with the second
non-planar rigid support structure 125. Open region 1650 may have a
non-planar shape maintained by the first rigid support structure
120. A monitor or a display 140 may be laminated to open region
1650. Rigid support structure 125 may be designed to be attached to
other parts of an automobile.
In some embodiments, the display 140 is attached to the flexible
glass substrate 110 after fixing the flexible glass substrate 110
into a fixed shape with a rigid support structure 125 and
cold-forming the fixed flexible glass substrate 110 into the fixed
shape. The cold-formed flexible glass substrate 110 may have one or
more portions having a planar shape and one or more portions having
a non-planar shape. The cold-formed flexible glass substrate 110
may have, but not limited to, a complex developable shape, a
developable shape or a combination thereof.
FIG. 17A illustrates a top view 1700 of the flexible glass
substrate 110 with a rigid support structure 125. FIG. 17B
illustrates a cross-section view 1720, along 7-7' shown in FIG.
17A. Along the 7-7' plane, the rigid support structure 125 has one
or more openings 1710 through which a display can be attached to
the cold-formed flexible glass substrate 110 after the cold-forming
is finished.
FIG. 17C illustrates a top view 1740 of the cold-formed flexible
glass substrate 110 with a rigid support structure 125 and displays
140 attached to the cold-formed glass substrate. FIG. 17D
illustrates a cross-section view 1760, along the 8-8' plane shown
in FIG. 17C.
In some embodiments, cold forming of the flexible glass substrate
110 can be prior to attachment to the rigid support structure 125,
for example, using injection molding, press molding, or any
suitable means.
In some embodiments, cold forming of the flexible glass substrate
110 can be performed at the same time as the attachment to the
rigid support structure 125, for example, using roller tapes, pins,
or any suitable means.
FIG. 18 shows a process flowchart of attaching a display 140 to the
flexible glass substrate 110 after cold-forming the flexible glass
substrate 110 and bonding to a rigid support structure 125. The
steps are performed in the following order: Step 1810: Cold forming
the flexible glass substrate 110 and fixing to a rigid support
structure 125. Step 1820: attaching a display 140 to the flexible
glass substrate 110 or to the rigid support structure through the
opening 1710.
Aspect (1) of this disclosure pertains to a process comprising
fixing a first portion of a flexible glass substrate into a first
fixed shape with a first rigid support structure; attaching a first
display to the first portion of the flexible glass substrate or to
the first rigid support structure; after fixing the first portion
and attaching the first display, and while maintaining the first
fixed shape of the first portion of the flexible glass substrate
and the attached first display: cold-forming a second portion of
the flexible glass substrate to a second fixed shape; and fixing
the second portion of the flexible glass substrate into the second
fixed shape with a second rigid support structure.
Aspect (2) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect
(1), wherein the first display is planar; the first fixed shape is
planar; and the first portion of the flexible glass substrate is
fixed into the first fixed shape with the first rigid support
structure after attaching the first display to the first portion of
the flexible glass substrate.
Aspect (3) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect
(1), wherein the first portion of the flexible glass substrate is
fixed into the first fixed shape with the first rigid support
structure before attaching the first display to the first portion
of the flexible glass substrate.
Aspect (4) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect (1)
or Aspect (2), wherein the first fixed shape is planar.
Aspect (5) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect (1)
or Aspect (3), wherein the first fixed shape is non-planar.
Aspect (6) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect (1)
or Aspect (3), wherein the first display is non-planar.
Aspect (7) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one of
Aspects (1) through (6), wherein the first fixed shape is formed by
cold-forming the first portion of the flexible glass substrate.
Aspect (8) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one of
Aspects (1) through (7), wherein the shape of the first display is
the same as the first fixed shape.
Aspect (9) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one of
Aspects (1) through (8), wherein the first rigid support structure
is permanently attached to the first portion of the flexible glass
substrate.
Aspect (10) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (9), wherein the second fixed shape is
non-planar.
Aspect (11) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (10), wherein the second rigid support
structure is permanently attached to the second portion of the
flexible glass substrate.
Aspect (12) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (11), wherein the first display is attached
to the flexible glass substrate or to the first rigid support
structure using a method selected from optical bonding, or air gap
bonding.
Aspect (13) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (12), further comprises: fixing a third
portion of the flexible glass substrate into a third fixed shape
with a third rigid support structure; attaching a second display to
the third portion of the flexible glass substrate or to the third
rigid support structure; wherein: cold-forming the second portion
of the flexible glass substrate to the second fixed shape; and
fixing the second portion of the flexible glass substrate into the
second fixed shape with the second rigid support structure is
performed after fixing the third portion and attaching the second
display, and while maintaining the third fixed shape of the third
portion of the flexible glass substrate and the attached second
display.
Aspect (14) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (13), wherein the flexible glass substrate
comprises a chemically strengthened glass.
Aspect (15) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (14), further comprising applying at least
one coating to the flexible glass substrate before fixing the first
portion and attaching the first display, and while the flexible
glass substrate is planar.
Aspect (16) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect
(15), wherein one of the at least one coatings is a decorative ink
coating.
Aspect (17) of this disclosure pertains to the process of Aspect
(15) or (16), wherein one of the at least one coatings is an
antireflective coating.
Aspect (18) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (17), wherein the flexible glass substrate
is directly bonded to the first rigid support structure.
Aspect (19) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (18), further comprising applying an
adhesive to at least one of the first rigid support structure and
the flexible glass substrate prior to bonding.
Aspect (20) of this disclosure pertains to the process of any one
of Aspects (1) through (19), wherein the flexible glass substrate
is bonded to the first rigid support structure using a method
selected from roller tapes, mechanical retainers, press molding, or
die molding.
Aspect (21) of this disclosure pertains to an article, formed by
the process comprising: fixing a first portion of a flexible glass
substrate into a first fixed shape with a first rigid support
structure; attaching a first display to the first portion of the
flexible glass substrate or to the first rigid support structure;
after fixing the first portion and attaching the display, and while
maintaining the first fixed shape of the first portion of the
flexible glass substrate and the attached first display:
cold-forming a second portion of the flexible glass substrate to a
second fixed shape; and fixing the second portion of the flexible
glass substrate into the second fixed shape with a second rigid
support structure.
Aspect (22) of this disclosure pertains to an article, comprising:
a cold-formed flexible glass substrate fixed into a non-planar
fixed shape with a rigid support structure; a display attached to
the cold-formed flexible glass substrate, wherein there is no
residual stress between the display and the cold-formed flexible
glass substrate.
Aspect (23) of this disclosure pertains to a process comprising:
cold-forming a flexible glass substrate into a non-planar fixed
shape; attaching the flexible glass substrate to a rigid support
structure; and after cold forming and attaching the flexible glass
substrate to a rigid support structure, attaching a display to the
flexible glass substrate or to the rigid support structure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail
herein with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to
indicate identical or functionally similar elements. References to
"one embodiment," "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "in certain
embodiments," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may
include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but
every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular
feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are
not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in
connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within
the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature,
structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments
whether or not explicitly described.
Where a range of numerical values is recited herein, comprising
upper and lower values, unless otherwise stated in specific
circumstances, the range is intended to include the endpoints
thereof, and all integers and fractions within the range. It is not
intended that the scope of the claims be limited to the specific
values recited when defining a range. Further, when an amount,
concentration, or other value or parameter is given as a range, one
or more preferred ranges or a list of upper preferable values and
lower preferable values, this is to be understood as specifically
disclosing all ranges formed from any pair of any upper range limit
or preferred value and any lower range limit or preferred value,
regardless of whether such pairs are separately disclosed. Finally,
when the term "about" is used in describing a value or an end-point
of a range, the disclosure should be understood to include the
specific value or end-point referred to. Whether or not a numerical
value or end-point of a range recites "about," the numerical value
or end-point of a range is intended to include two embodiments: one
modified by "about," and one not modified by "about."
As used herein, the term "about" means that amounts, sizes,
formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics
are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger
or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors,
rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors
known to those of skill in the art.
As used herein, "comprising" is an open-ended transitional phrase.
A list of elements following the transitional phrase "comprising"
is a non-exclusive list, such that elements in addition to those
specifically recited in the list may also be present.
The term "or," as used herein, is inclusive; more specifically, the
phrase "A or B" means "A, B, or both A and B." Exclusive "or" is
designated herein by terms such as "either A or B" and "one of A or
B," for example.
The indefinite articles "a" and "an" to describe an element or
component means that one or at least one of these elements or
components is present. Although these articles are conventionally
employed to signify that the modified noun is a singular noun, as
used herein the articles "a" and "an" also include the plural,
unless otherwise stated in specific instances. Similarly, the
definite article "the," as used herein, also signifies that the
modified noun may be singular or plural, again unless otherwise
stated in specific instances.
The term "wherein" is used as an open-ended transitional phrase, to
introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the
structure.
The examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present
disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the
variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the
field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are
within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
While various embodiments have been described herein, they have
been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It
should be apparent that adaptations and modifications are intended
to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed
embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein.
It therefore will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
various changes in form and detail can be made to the embodiments
disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present disclosure. The elements of the embodiments presented
herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but may be
interchanged to meet various needs as would be appreciated by one
of skill in the art.
It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used
herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The
breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited
by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be
defined only in accordance with the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *
References